The European Parliament Orders The European Commission To Step Up Membership Talks With Ukraine.

The European Parliament issued a directive yesterday ordering the European Commission to speed up talks on Ukraine’s membership in the European Union and outline concrete steps for Ukraine to receive associate membership status in 2008. The Euro-Parliament said that the democratic nature of Ukraine’s recent Rada elections confirmed the country’s western course. The Euro-Parliament also announced plans to open a free-trade zone between the EU and Ukraine once the later joins the WTO. Concorde Capital: The Foreign Ministry was bubbling with happiness yesterday, following Ukraine’s positive review by the European Parliament. Additionally the news must have been music to the ears of the President’s office, which is pining for the establishment of a free-trade zone with the EU once Ukraine joins the EU.